Les Invalides is a historic complex located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France.
It was originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans by King Louis XIV in the late 17th century.
Today, Les Invalides Paris is a museum and a burial site for some of France’s most renowned military figures.
The Les Invalides offers a unique opportunity to learn about France’s military history, admire impressive architecture, and pay homage to prominent figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte.
This article shares everything you need to know before booking Paris Les Invalides tickets.
Table of contents
- What to expect at Les Invalides
- Where to book tickets for Les Invalides
- How do online tickets work?
- Cost of Les Invalides ticket
- Discount tickets
- Les Invalides tickets
- Combo tickets
- How to reach Les Invalides Paris?
- Visiting Hours
- How long does the tour take?
- Best time to visit Les Invalides
- Les Invalides facts
- FAQs
What to expect at Les Invalides
Les Invalides in Paris is a historical complex with several attractions and points of interest.
Here’s what you can expect when visiting Les Invalides:
– Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum): It showcases a vast collection of weapons, armor, uniforms, artwork, and historical artifacts from different periods of French military history.
– Dôme des Invalides: is an impressive golden-domed building within the complex and houses the tomb of one of France’s most renowned military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte.
– Église du Dôme: It is a beautiful church with interiors featuring stunning architecture, intricate marble work, and stunning frescoes.
– Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération: It is a museum dedicated to the French Resistance during World War II and showcases exhibits related to the liberation of France, including artifacts, documents, photographs, and personal belongings of resistance fighters.
– Military History Exhibits: Les Invalides houses various galleries and exhibitions focused on military history besides the main Museum.
– Gardens and Courtyards: Les Invalides boasts beautiful gardens and courtyards, providing a serene environment to relax and stroll.
When visiting Les Invalides, ensure you have ample time to explore the various attractions and take in this iconic complex’s historical significance and architectural beauty.
Where to book tickets for Les Invalides
Tickets for Les Invalides are available online in advance or at the attraction.
To ensure a hassle-free experience, we suggest booking your tickets online in advance.
This saves you time and allows you to take advantage of exclusive and unmissable discounts and offers.
You can easily coordinate the rest of your tour by planning ahead of time.
Additionally, tickets tend to sell out quickly, so it’s best to stay ahead of the game.
Avoid last-minute disappointments by booking your tickets online and enjoying a stress-free day out.
You can expect long wait times during peak season at the entrance, especially if you do not book your tickets in advance.
How do online tickets work?
Go to the Les Invalides booking page, and select your preferred date, time slot, and number of tickets to buy.
You will receive the ticket confirmation in your email after the booking.
Ticket printouts are not required.
You will get entry into the show by redeeming your smartphone ticket and passing a mandatory security check on the day of your visit.
Cost of Les Invalides ticket
Tickets for Les Invalides cost €15 for all visitors above the age of 18 years.
Children up to 17 years can enter for free.
EU citizens with ID, aged 18 to 25 years, can also enter Les Invalides Military Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb for free.
Discount tickets
Children up to 17 years and EU citizens with ID get the best discount on entry tickets to Les Invalides Paris.
They can enter for free.
Les Invalides tickets
Explore the history of France through one of the largest collections of military history and art.
Under the magnificent golden Dôme des Invalides, see Napoleon I’s mausoleum.
Explore the collections and wander through the armor and weapons of the kings of France.
Gaze around at swords, cannons, uniforms, paintings, photographs, and personal belongings of France’s major figures.
Look beyond the artifacts, and participate in interactive digital experiences with devices that allow visitors to better understand some of the battles that forged the country’s history.
Ticket Price
Adult ticket (18+ years): €15
Child ticket (up to 17 years): Free
EU Citizen with ID (18 to 25 years): Free
Napoleon’s Tomb and the Army Museum – Semi-Private Guided Tour
When you book this semi-private guided tour, you get entrance tickets to the Les Invalides with a guided visit to Les Invalides Museum.
You will learn about the history from an expert English-speaking tour guide.
The duration of the tour is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The maximum group size is eight people or fewer.
You will visit Napoleon’s Tomb and the Army Museum during the tour.
Learn about the French and the many nations that have come to fight on French soil.
Meet your guide outside the Café de l’Esplanade, 52 rue Fabert, 75007 Paris. The nearest metro is Latour Maubourg.
Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before your tour departure time.
Ticket Price
Adult ticket (18+ years): €109
Youth ticket (11 to 17 years): €65
Child ticket (4 to 10 years): €65
Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides Dome: Private Guided Tour
Booking this private guided tour gives you a skip-the-line ticket to the Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides.
The licensed tour guide takes you on a private tour with your group of a maximum of 8 people.
Discover France’s tumultuous military history and important figures like Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Your private tour begins in the courtyard of the Invalides, where you’ll learn about the building’s 17th-century roots as a veteran’s hospital under Louis XIV, and take a walk through the cathedral, dedicated to his troops.
Show your smartphone ticket to the guide at the meeting point outside the main gate of Invalides.
Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the starting time.
The duration of the tour is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Ticket Price
Adult ticket (18+ years): €200
Child ticket (up to 17 years): €111
Combo tickets
You get attractive discounts with combo tickets for Crazy Horse Paris and other attractions!
Take a look at the combos available.
Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides + Panthéon
Book once and enhance your experience with this convenient combination of Les Invalides and Panthéon.
You can visit both attractions in one day as they are only 3 km (1.9 miles) away.
When you book this combo, you get access to permanent and temporary exhibitions at Les Invalides, along with access to Panthéon.
By booking this combo, you save almost 10% on your ticket price.
Ticket Price: €24
Opéra Garnier + Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides
Book once and enhance your experience with this convenient combination of Les Invalides and Opéra Garnier.
You can visit both attractions in one day as they are only 3.2 km (2 miles) away.
When you book this combo, you get access to permanent and temporary exhibitions at Les Invalides, along with access to Opéra Garnier and all the temporary exhibitions (if available).
By booking this combo, you save almost 5% on your ticket price.
Ticket Price: €28
Arc de Triomphe + Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides
Book once and enhance your experience with this convenient combination of Les Invalides and Arc de Triomphe.
You can visit both attractions in one day as they are only 2.9 km (1.8 miles) away.
When you book this combo, you get access to permanent and temporary exhibitions at Les Invalides and an entrance ticket to Arc de Triomphe, where you can visit Napoleon’s tribute to his Grande Armée and see spectacular views of Paris.
By booking this combo, you save almost 5% on your ticket price.
Ticket Price: €27
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How to reach Les Invalides Paris?
Paris Les Invalides is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The distance between Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides is just 1.5 km (.9 miles).
Address: 75007, Paris, France. Get Directions.
The Les Invalides Paris can be easily reached by public transport or car.
By Bus
There are multiple bus stops available near Les Invalides Museum with many buses. You can take bus numbers – 82, 92, 86, 80, and 28.
Nearby bus stops are Vauban Hôtel des Invalides, Invalides – La Tour Maubourg, École Militaire, and Rue Cler.
By Subway
The nearby subway stations are École Militaire and La Tour-Maubourg.
The available train is number 8.
Take a 10-minute walk from any subway station to reach Les Invalides Military Museum.
By Car
You can either rent a cab or drive to the Les Invalides.
Launch Google Maps on your phone and get started!
Don’t worry about parking. There are numerous parking lots around the Museum.
Visiting Hours
Les Invalides opens on all days except Tuesdays at 10 am and closes at 6 pm.
On Tuesdays, Les Invalides Museum is open till 9 pm.
The Museums and attractions inside Les Invalides are closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
How long does the tour take?
We suggest spending about two to three hours discovering the wonders of the sights and museums inside Les Invalides.
The duration may differ based on many factors, like the number of visitors, off-peak or peak season, etc.
Best time to visit Les Invalides
The best time to visit Les Invalides is as soon as it opens at 10 am.
It is better to avoid visiting Les Invalides during school holidays and weekends as it is generally more crowded now.
You can plan your weekday visit for a relaxed and comfortable experience, as fewer visitors are around this time.
Expect large crowds and rush at Les Invalides during the peak tourist season in Paris, which runs from June to September.
Les Invalides facts
Les Invalides was formerly known as the National Residence of the Invalids.
It currently houses museums like the Musee de l’Armee of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d’Histoire Contemporaine.
Check out some more facts about Les Invalides in Paris.
– Les Invalides was initially built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
– The construction of Les Invalides was commissioned by King Louis XIV and started in 1671. Architect Libéral Bruant designed the complex.
– The centerpiece of Les Invalides is the magnificent Dôme des Invalides, a golden-domed chapel that houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The dome stands at 107 meters (351 feet) and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Paris.
– The Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) is located within Les Invalides and is one of the largest military museums in the world.
– Les Invalides Museum is also home to the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which displays a collection of detailed scale models of fortified cities and strategic locations in France.
– The French military academy, École Militaire, is situated within the premises of Les Invalides. It was founded in 1750 and is still in operation today, training officers for the French army.
– The complex has a vast courtyard, the Cour d’Honneur, lined with buildings and provides a grand entrance to Les Invalides.
– Les Invalides has witnessed several significant historical events, including military parades, state funerals, and the transfer of Napoleon’s remains to his final resting place in the Dôme des Invalides in 1840.
– St. Peter’s Basilica inspired the Dome at Les Invalides in Rome. The Basilica was the original Baroque dome.
– Les Invalides is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, one of the poshest districts in the center of Paris. The street is on the left bank of the River Seine and is home to several important monuments and museums. It is where the Eiffel Tower is and Champ de Mars.
FAQs
Here are some questions that visitors usually inquire about before visiting Les Invalides Paris.
Book your tickets for Les Invalides; children up to 17 years and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 can enter for free.
Les Invalides remains closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
Les Invalides is the burial site of Napoleon I and is also famous for its beautiful golden dome.
Yes, the attraction is wheelchair accessible.
The ticket window closes 30 minutes before the Museum gets closed. Thus, we recommend booking your tickets online in advance.
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